Latest news with #D23
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Walt Disney World Teases Details About New 'Cars'-Themed Land amid 'Largest Expansion' in History of Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World has released details about the upcoming Cars-themed land, set to launch as part of the Piston Peak National Park transformation The Cars attraction was first announced at the Disney Experiences showcase at D23 on Aug. 10 "Cars from around the country are fueling up to be the wildest racer in the 'wheelderness,'" a Disney Parks Blog post read Walt Disney World is gearing up for the "largest expansion" in the history of Magic Kingdom! On Tuesday, June 3, the Orlando, Florida park released new details regarding the Piston Peak National Park transformation and the upcoming Pixar Cars-themed land, per a Disney Parks Blog post. "Cars from around the country are fueling up to be the wildest racer in the 'wheelderness,'" the post began. "Of course, we know that fans are curious to see how the exciting new backdrop for the big rally race will fit into the waters, landscapes, and storytelling at Magic Kingdom." It was announced that two new Cars-themed attractions would soon be built in Frontierland at the Disney Experiences showcase at D23 on Aug. 10. In the latest post, the park announced that Piston Peak National Park "will continue the sweeping storytelling tradition that has crossed Liberty Square and Frontierland" since it opened in the '70s. The post read, "Since the early days of Magic Kingdom, adventurous guests have traveled across space and time as they pass from Liberty Square to Frontierland." "At the heart of all these stories are heroic characters with a belief in themselves that helped forge a path to their dreams," the statement continued. "To continue this journey in great American storytelling, Piston Peak National Park will be part of the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom," the park said. The post continued, "Imagine an awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers. While fictional, Piston Peak is inspired by the Rocky Mountain area and the history and iconic sights of the American Frontier and its national parks." The park revealed that Piston Peak visitors would "be able to see and explore the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails and more all set within the Disney and Pixar Cars universe." "To make sure these buildings fit naturally within the surrounding majestic landscapes, Imagineers are using a style of architecture called 'Parkitecture,' which was developed by the National Park Service to create structures that harmonize with the natural environment," the post added. "From the outside, trees will provide a natural barrier between the off-road rally and other parts of Frontierland and Liberty Square. Rugged mountains with dramatic peaks will be nestled along a calming waterway across from Grizzly Hall, and soaring geysers from the famed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will stretch into the trails of our off-road rally," the description read. The post also confirmed that amid the ongoing work on the park this summer, the attractions Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat would be closing from July 7. "Imagineers are also hard at work beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, bringing to life the first-ever land inspired by the Disney Villains with two major attractions, dining, and shopping all on an incredibly twisted grand scale," the park added. Details of the off-road Cars vehicles heading to the park were first revealed at The Future of World-Building at Disney panel at SXSW in March, per a previous Disney Parks Blog post. Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter and Imagineer Michael Hundgen shared the news, with the latter saying, 'Our primary goal is creating an emotional experience for our guests." 'For this Cars attraction, we need to invent a new type of ride vehicle. No one builds these in a factory because it has to do so much more than just carrying you from one place to another. We have to create a car that conveys a feeling when you ride in it," he added, per the post. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Imagineers worked with a motocross company after taking a trip to Arizona to experience driving in a real off-road vehicle on rocky terrain, the park said. 'We're using a customized production vehicle,' Hundgen explained. 'It has sensors all over it, and we're taking it for test drives on our dirt track to gather data on how the vehicle responds to different terrain. This is where we turn that feeling we want into real-world engineering." A Disney spokesperson didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. Read the original article on People
The Irish Sun
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
New Disneyland attraction SLAMMED by Walt Disney's granddaughter who calls mechanical tribute to him a ‘robotic grampa'
WALT Disney's granddaughter has slammed the entertainment giant for turning its late founder into a 'robotic grampa'. Disney is unveiling an animatronic Walt Disney for Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration this July - despite repeated protests from his granddaughter Joanna Miller. 4 Joanna Miller, the granddaughter of Walt Disney, is against the company's plan to create an animatronic of their founder Credit: Getty 4 Miller says her grandpa would have hated being digitally revived - as pictured in an illustration of Walt Disney presenting a Disneyland model Credit: Disney 4 Pictured is an illustration of an animatronic Abraham Lincoln on a stage Credit: Disney Joanna Miller 'I think I started crying,' she said, recalling the moment she first saw the figure. 'It didn't look like him to me.' Miller said she voiced her concerns early on, sending a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger when the idea was first proposed. She said she later met with Iger and the team responsible for creating the attraction, telling him: 'I strongly feel the last two minutes with the robot will do much more harm than good to Grampa's legacy. "They will remember the robot - and not the man.' Despite Iger being 'very kind" and despite his promises to protect her grandfather's legacy, she said her request that they scrap the animatronic was ultimately ignored. Miller told the LA Times she wasn't speaking on behalf of any family members except her grandfather and mother. She added that it 'pains' her to call out the very company he created. Most read in The US Sun She explained: "The idea of a Robotic Grampa to give the public a feeling of who the living man was just makes no sense. "It would be an imposter. They are dehumanizing him. People are not replaceable." Disney announces brand new theme park She also argued that her late grandfather had "told Sam McKim that he never wanted to be an animatronic", claiming that she has been provided with first-hand proof to back this up. The figure will appear in a new attraction called Walt Disney - A Magical Life, located in the park's Main Street Opera House. The proposal to show 'what it would be like to stop by Walt's office' was The company said it would be "a fitting tribute" to the man who made "significant advances with Audio-Animatronics". Walt Disney co-founded The Walt Disney Company (originally called Disney Brothers Studio) in 1923, with his brother Roy O. Disney. Walt is regarded as a pioneer of Audio-Animatronics, famously bringing Abraham Lincoln to life at the 1964 New York World's Fair. Josh D'Amaro, chair of Disney Experiences, told people at D23, the company's annual fan event: 'Creating our first Walt figure is an idea that's been whispered in the hallowed halls of imagineering for years, decades, even.' Read more on the Irish Sun He added: 'We just had to wait for innovation to catch up with our dreams. And we're finally ready.' Disneyland California, which opened on July 17, 1955, will celebrate its 70th anniversary this July. 4 Disneyland California will celebrate its 70th anniversary this July Credit: Getty
USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Disney World reveals closing date for Tom Sawyer Island, details on new Cars area
Disney World reveals closing date for Tom Sawyer Island, details on new Cars area Show Caption Hide Caption Disney World, Disneyland to get new theme park lands and attractions Disney announced new lands and attractions for its global theme parks at its 2024 D23 fan event, including "Monsters, Inc." and villains-themed areas. It's time to say goodbye to an iconic piece of Walt Disney World. On Tuesday, Disney Parks announced that Magic Kingdom's Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat and Rivers of America will close on July 7 to make way for a new "Cars"-inspired area unveiled at last August's D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. For decades, Tom Sawyer Island has offered guests a tranquil, tree-canopied respite from crowds and a cornucopia of caves and other places for kids to explore and stretch their legs. Many longtime fans have expressed sadness at their imminent loss, but newly shared details suggest similar experiences ahead. Is Cars replacing Tom Sawyer Island? Yes. The area is being reimagined as "Piston Peak National Park," part of Magic Kingdom's largest expansion to date. "Imagine an awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers," Disney Parks Blog posted Tuesday. "Inside Piston Peak, guests will be able to see and explore the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails and more all set within the Disney and Pixar 'Cars' universe." It will be different from Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, which is set in Radiator Springs. Disney said Imagineers will use a style of architecture developed by the Natural Park Service to blend structures into Rocky Mountain-inspired Piston Peak, and trees will serve as a natural border between an off-road rally attraction and the rest of Frontierland and Liberty Square. Can you go on Tom Sawyer Island? Yes. Guests can take a raft to Tom Sawyer Island through its last day of operation at Magic Kingdom, July 6. That's also the last day of operation for Liberty Square Riverboat, which circles the island along the Florida park's Rivers of America. Disneyland's Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island will remain open. The California attraction was personally designed by Walt Disney and enhanced in 2007. What's coming to Disney World in 2025: New nighttime parade, Disney Villains show and more What's closing at Disney World in 2025? Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo will close at Disney's Hollywood Studios on July 8 – just a day after Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat and the Rivers of America. Guests have until July 7 to say farewell, but the Muppets will return eventually. Disney plans to reimagine Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith with a Muppets theme. "It's Tough to be a Bug" closed at Disney's Animal Kingdom in March. It will be replaced with a new "Zootopia: Better Zoogether" show later this year. Animal Kingdom's TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and shop Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Treasures closed in January for the first phase of construction on a new Tropical Americas inspired land, which will eventually replace DinoLand U.S.A.
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Disney World reveals official start date for Disney Starlight nighttime parade
Disney World reveals official start date for Disney Starlight nighttime parade Show Caption Hide Caption Disney World, Disneyland to get new theme park lands and attractions Disney announced new lands and attractions for its global theme parks at its 2024 D23 fan event, including "Monsters, Inc." and villains-themed areas. For the first time in nearly a decade, Walt Disney World will have a nighttime parade for everyday guests. Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away will debut at Magic Kingdom on July 20, the Florida resort shared Tuesday. The parade was first announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event last summer, but the start date had been under wraps. Inspired by its long-running predecessor, the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade, Disney Starlight will center on the power of a wish and feature a mix of characters from classic and contemporary Disney Animation and Pixar films. 'What guests are going to be able to get in this parade is a nod to the past but also eyes firmly set on the future,' Tara Anderson, show director with Disney Live Entertainment, said in a teaser video shared by Disney Parks. 'So you're going to hear melodies from older films, newer films in a very magical, mystical way.' The Blue Fairy, whom guests may remember from 'Pinocchio,' will power the illuminated parade with her magic. Other characters will include Elsa, Moana, Asha from 'Wish,' members of the Madrigal family from 'Encanto,' Miguel and Pepita from 'Coco,' Peter Pan and Wendy, various Disney princesses with their princes, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse , and more. A train, inspired by the Main Street Electrical Parade, will be among the many floats. This is Disney World's first regular nighttime parade since 2016. Other nighttime parades, like Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween Parade and Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, are exclusive to specially ticketed after-hours events and not included with standard park admission like Disney Starlight will be.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Disney Exec Says He Isn't Worried About Universal's Epic Universe. What It Really Means for Disney World
A Disney executive says that the company is not worried about the opening of Universal's new Florida theme park, Epic Universe, impacting Disney World "If something is built new in central Florida, like Epic Universe" that tour is also "going to have to visit the Magic Kingdom," Josh D'Amaro, the chairman of Disney Experiences, said WednesdayAt least one Disney executive is not concerned about competition from Universal Orlando's new Florida theme park. Speaking at a conference on Wednesday, May 14, Josh D'Amaro, the chairman of Disney Experiences, said that he isn't worried that the new 110-acre NBCUniversal property — Epic Universe — will reduce the number of tourists visiting the nearby Walt Disney World Resort. "We're always on the offensive… We're constantly investing for the long term, fortifying each one of our theme parks," D'Amaro said, according to Variety. "If something is built new in central Florida, like Epic Universe" that brings a tourist to the area, "that tourist is going to have to visit the Magic Kingdom." While Disney doesn't have any major openings imminent at the Florida resort, it announced a slate of buzzed-about new rides and lands for the coming years, including some themed to Monsters Inc. Disney Villains, Encanto and more, at the most recent D23 conference last August. After first announcing it would be adding a fourth park to its central Florida resort in August 2019, the resort is gearing up for the long-awaited opening of Epic Universe on Thursday, May 22. Guests will be able to fully immerse themselves in five new worlds, including Celestial Park, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk and Dark Universe, home to Universal Monster legends like Dracula, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein's Monster and more. Epic Universe will offer over 50 attractions, including entertainment and dining options, shopping experiences and 11 new rides, PEOPLE previously reported. It is the fourth theme park to join the resort's Universal Studios (the original park), Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay Water Park. Tickets for the new park are already available for purchase, on the company's official website. D'Amaro also shared more information about Disney's latest endeavor — a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, announced last week that was annoucned on May 7. "We knew there was demand for Disney product around the world," D'Amaro said, opening up about the company's seventh resort and the decision to take their business to the United Arab Emirates. "This is a crossroads for the world." The destination — dubbed Disneyland Abu Dhabi — marks Disney's seventh global theme park resort and its first in the Middle East. It will be built as a waterfront resort on Yas Island, a hub for entertainment that already draws millions of visitors from across the Middle East, Africa, India, Europe and beyond. 'This is a thrilling moment for our company,' said Disney CEO Bob Iger in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, promising the park "will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways." 'Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati — an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world that will bring to life our timeless characters and stories in many new ways and will become a source of joy and inspiration for the people of this vast region to enjoy for generations to come," Iger said. The park does not yet have an opening date. Read the original article on People
